Federer says Novak man to beat in Melbourne

Swiss champion Roger Federer kept up his impressive early season form after another flawless week of singles performances at the mixed teams Hopman Cup in Perth -- as he declared Novak Djokovic the man to beat at the Australian Open.

Federer will be aiming for a third successive Australian Open and looked in impressive touch in claiming a second Hopman Cup, winning all four of his singles matches as he prepared for the year's first Grand Slam in Melbourne later this month.

The 37-year-old used the Hopman Cup as his launching pad for winning the past two Australian Opens, the first of which in 2017 ended an almost five-year Grand Slam drought for Federer.

Speaking after he easily accounted for world number four Alexander Zverev, the last player to beat him in singles in Perth back in 2017, Federer played down his chances of a third successive Australian Open title.

Although the 6-4, 6-2 win over Zverev in the Hopman final reversed a loss to the German in London in November, Federer said he was just one of many challengers in Melbourne.

"I'm one of the top 10 favourites and so are many others," he said.

"I don't know the draw yet, I don't know who my first round opponent is, I don't know if I play on Monday or day or night.

"In terms of who is going to win it, we know who the usual suspects are and I am part of that bunch."
"With his class once he gets his groove back he is hard to beat."
"I am happy I was able to maintain the good, high quality tennis I showed all week."